Jaime Escalante
Jaime Escalante
Jaime Escalante
Jaime Alfonso Escalante Gutiérrez was a celebrated Bolivian teacher and one of the most
famous educators in América during 1980s and 1990s. He began teaching mathematics to
troubled students in a Los Angeles school and became famous for leading many of them to
pass the advanced placement calculus test.
Born to teacher parents, he realized that his true passion was teaching and following in
their footsteps, he became an educator as well. Later, he left Bolivia in search of a better
life but upon arriving in America, he learned that his teaching credentials were not
sufficient to teach there. So he earned another bachelor’s degree plus an American
teaching certificate in order to become an educator.
As a teacher, he strove to bring his kids to their full potential, working with them to help
them understand mathematics. He is best remembered as the mathematics teacher at
Garfield High School who led a group of students to excel at complex subjects such as
advanced algebra, trigonometry, and calculus. A group of his students passed the advance
placement exam in calculus for the first time in the history of the school—one of his
greatest achievements as a teacher. He saw the potential in his students that other teachers
had failed to see before, and pushed them to amazing heights.
Life was difficult for Escalante in the United States. He couldn’t be a teacher in California.
He had to go to college again. It took him many years but he did it. He worked at a
restaurant to support his family at the same time.
Finally when he was 43 he started to work at Garfield High School in Los Angeles. This
school had a bad name. There were gangs and the students were not doing well. Soon
Escalante changed things.
Jaime Escalante worked with his students. He taught them math. He used his own methods,
or ways and they worked. The students learned and enjoyed their math. In 1982, fourteen of
his students passed an advanced math examination. Nobody believed this. People said the
students were cheating. The students wanted to show that they were not cheating. They
took the exam again. And they passed again. This was a miracle in a place like Garfield!
This was the work of Jaime Escalante.
Every year Escalante produced top class students. People know him as one of the best
teachers in America. There is even a movie and a book about him.
a) enjoy b) support
a) gangs b) families
3. Nobody believed the students passed the exam. This was a miracle… at Garfield!
a) job b) miracle
4. Nobody believed in the results. People said the students were cheating…
a) cheating b) arriving
a) movies b) methods
a) learned b) produced
True or false
1. At 33 Jaime Escalante started to teach at Garfield High School. (F)
2. Jaime Escalante taught math. (v)
3. Garfield High School was in Los Angeles. (v)
4. In 1982, fourteen students at Garfield High School did not pass the math
exam. (f)
5. There were no gangs in Garfield High School. (F)
6. There is a movie about Jaime Escalante. (v)
Use the Past Simple
1. Jaime Escalante ARRIVED… in Los Angeles in 1963. (to arrive)
2. Jaime Escalante …SPOKE almost no English. (to speak)
3. At 43, Jaime Escalante STARTED… to work at Garfield High School. (to
start)
4. 14 of his students PASSED… the exam. (to pass)
5. Nobody …BELIEVED the students could pass the exam. (to believe)
6. People SAID … the students were cheating. (to say)
7. Escalante’s students …ENJOYED their math. (to enjoy)
2. Which were your favourite school classes? Which are you best at? Why?
Teachers inspire respect for the work they do, they are admirable for
working so hard.
students are an example of valentia for facing new challenges, and also
develop a vocation for learning
Teachers inspire respect for the work they do, they are admirable for
working so hard.
5. Why do you think Escalante preferred to work in The United States, and
not in Bolivia?
Jaime Escalante was of an unwavering will and his passion for teaching
mathematics, was willing to start from scratch